The Sambadrome
by galy
We had tickets for the Grand Stand in section 7. It cost about 180$ U.S., and of top of it we paid 50$ for the transportation. Section 7 is a great location. It is just across the jury stand; so you get to see the best part of the parade, cause all dancers try their best in front of the jury. The "Grand Stand" means you don't have a marked place. You just go inside the huge "sector 7" and find a place on the concrete stairs. People starts to arrive as early as 4:00 p.m. (the parade starts at 9:00 p.m.) The best places considered being the front row. Until it all begins, people sit on the stairs, but as the parade starts, the whole crowed is on it's feet, singing and dancing. Pushing and shaving is part of the game, all (or most) in good spirit.
We arrived very late - 9:00 p.m. As there was no place in sight, we just stood in front of the first row. Some people complained, and finally we squeezed with all others. After a whole night of singing and dancing we became all friends. The CARNIVAL
ONE OF THE TEMPLES OF BOSSA NOVA - BIP BIP
by marcbrazil
For sure you have heard something about BOSSA NOVA, it is what Tango is to Argentina, BOSSA NOVA has the same meaning for Rio de Janeiro.
Every wednesday in a short tiny bar in Copacabana you can see real CARIOCA PEOPLE perfoming BOSSA NOVA just like Tom Jobim did when he started his career!!!
THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA
HOW INSENSITIVE
AND CORCOVADO are songs of Bossa Nova that you might have heard this "sort of brazilian jazz", and you can experience such a local thing in a ded end street of Copacabana.
THE STREET STANDS IN FRONT OF POINT FIVE AT ATLANTICA AVENUE IN COPACABANA BEACH, when you see in teh corner a hotel called DEBRET, that is the ebst reference for you to reach BIB BIP.
If you go there you will find me, or you will meet Rafael, Patricia, Miti and Lena.
If u r looking for a beautiful...
by Juli_br
If u r looking for a beautiful far off beach PRAINHA is the place to go. You'll have a hard time to get there, it takes around 40 minutes to get there but the trip worth it.You should also check it out JOATINGA BEACH its also kinda far, around 20 minutes but its very beautiful as well.
This is a pic of Prainha Beach.
You Can Buy Almost Anything on the Beach
by tijuca
One nice thing about Rio is the availability of almost anything while you're kicking back on the sands of any beach. Shrimp, mate (tea), soft drinks, cookies, pineapple, oysters, roasted cashews and peanuts, ice cream, etc. You can even buy the famous Brazilian bird kites, suntan lotion, hats, sunglasses, and tshirts.
Some may feel bothered by the constant sales pitches of the vendors, but just sit back, chill out, and know you're on the beach in Rio and we're not! Part of Rio's charm comes from the sales pitches of the vendors on the sand. "Mate, mate." "Sanduiche natural." "Biscoito!" Give these poor vendors a break and buy something. Please tip them, too. Their lives are not easy, and their loads are heavy. Then after working the beaches all day, many get shaken down by authorities and lose their earnings. They all must have permits. Even in Rio.
On the otherhand, try to avoid the appearance of a bullshark feeding frenzy off the Florida Keys. My wife, the adventurer that she is, decided she just couldn't say, "no," and had a little of everything. And I mean everything named above on a single trip to the beach. The next day, on top of Corcovado, she paid the price. I still enjoy the video of her sitting on the stairs, wiped out.
I do NOT recommend the "sanduiche natural."
Parking guy
by racheljapi
When driving around Rio you're going to see parking guys waving you in and asking for money. Some of these guys work for the city (they wear vests) some don't. The thing is that you have to pay even if they don't, that is, if you want to keep your car safe. The thing is there are guys that work some streets just like the government guys. They charge you for the spot (2 to 3 reais depending on where and what's going on in that area) and they kind of watch your car. When you pay with a government attendant it includes insurance for your car getting stolen (I believe).
Both ways, you have to pay when you park where one is and there is usually someone on almost every street (minus residential)
Catedral Metropolitana
Santa Teresa.
The convent of Santa Teresa
Vila Canoas
